Apps & Consumer
Uber scales lost-and-found operations to its robotaxi fleet
Uber is expanding its lost-and-found infrastructure to its growing robotaxi network, which it plans to operate in as many as 15 cities globally by year-end.
On Tuesday, Uber reported that thousands of items were left behind in its robotaxis over the past year. The disclosure, part of the company’s annual Lost & Found Index which has run for 10 years, highlights how Uber is integrating its existing support infrastructure into its expanding autonomous vehicle (AV) operations. The volume of forgotten belongings—ranging from typical keys and wallets to a 15-pound yo-yo—indicates the scale of driverless rides already completed on the platform.
To manage these incidents without a human driver present, Uber is utilizing its established support network. When a rider leaves an item in a robotaxi, they can contact customer support through the app. If the item is located, the user has two recovery options: they can pay $15 for delivery via Uber Courier—a rebranded delivery service, formerly known as Uber Connect, which launched in 2020—or they can pick up the item in person from an AV depot, which is a facility where autonomous vehicles are stored and serviced. This operational framework supports Uber’s growing list of AV partnerships, which include Waymo—whose service on Uber launched in Austin in March 2025 and later expanded to Atlanta—as well as Motional in Las Vegas and Avride in Dallas.
The integration of these support systems is key to Uber’s long-term autonomous strategy. “With tens of millions of lost items reported on Uber each year, we’ve spent the last decade building systems that help riders quickly and seamlessly reunite with their belongings,” said Amy Satrom, global head of autonomous support at Uber. “As autonomous rides continue to scale on Uber, we’re bringing that same expertise to AVs — combining our fleet operations, support teams, and hybrid network to make getting a lost item back simple, even when there’s no driver behind the wheel.”
This operational expansion aligns with Uber’s broader commercial push into driverless technology. In February, the company announced Uber Autonomous Solutions, a business division designed to provide software and support services to AV operators. Looking ahead, Uber plans to offer robotaxi rides in as many as 15 cities globally by the end of the year, and the company intends to be the largest facilitator of AV trips in the world by 2029.
Why it matters
Uber is leveraging its existing logistics and customer support infrastructure to solve the practical operational challenges of driverless transport. By addressing everyday issues like lost items, the company is building the operational foundation required to support its plans to offer robotaxi rides in as many as 15 cities globally by the end of the year.